7 month old and tantrums

Kate CP - posted on 03/23/2012

"...There is no right or wrong when it comes to babies..."



SWEET! So I can use a cattle prod to wake my daughter up in the morning? This is gonna be *awesome*.

Roberta - posted on 03/23/2012

It sounds to me like your baby needs to see a pediatrician. We adopted a severely challenged child and although he rarely cried when he did cry there were no tears. So just because there are no tears doesn't mean it is a tantrum. Usually with any child and a tantrum it stops as soon as they get what they want if the behaviour continues there is an underlying problem. Hope this is helpful to you and you get some answers soon.

Audra - posted on 03/23/2012

I would check this book out. It is very helpful about tantrums and a lot of other things.



http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Love-Solutio...

Alice - posted on 03/23/2012

Here is my two cents for you (and i also am not trying to sound like i'm attacking you).. my daughter didn't start throwing tantrums (like real ones!) until she was after a year, but way before 18 months. She usually was frustrated, wanted attention (aka - mommy is doing something that doesnt involve me, so i want her attention), dirty, etc.. I would agree that at 7 months, they are still in a very much needy stage so try giving him some attention.. another thing, like many have suggested, is distraction.. simply taking them away from the area they are crying may help and showing them a noisy toy or their reflections.. allergens from foods he is eating (thats how we found out at 7 months that corn was a problem for her, re-introduced it closer to a year, and is now fine with it).. babies are pretty sensitive to everything just because its so new to them (just because you are OK with something, doesnt mean he will.. im intolerant to citrus and my daughter eats up oranges! and lastly, being in the medical field, PLEASE GET A SECOND OPINION! your MD may be right or he could just be missing something that another set of eyes and brains can catch.. i dont know how many times i've seen pointless surgery that doesnt help just because someone didn't want to hurt "their" doctors feelings or whatever other reason they come up with.. just a few thoughts :) again, ive had a whiny, clingy little girl but a hug does a lot for her when shes upset!

Krista - posted on 03/23/2012

There is no right or wrong when it comes to babies.



Seriously?



I could probably line up quite a few social services workers who would beg to differ...

Cassandra - posted on 03/23/2012

I sent you a direct msg about Sensory Integration please read it because your right something is wrong but there isba way to find out, your a good Mom if your child has issues with SI it is fixable but few people know how to identify it an you did the right thing reaching out.

Susan - posted on 03/23/2012

can you tell what triggers them? how long did your ped say it was safe to let him cry?

Venetia - posted on 03/23/2012

I No expert but ask you doctor to take some blood tests, your baby might be in some discomfort and has no other way to tell you except his screaming

April - posted on 03/23/2012

i just read your OP again Danielle and I am wondering about the no tears thing. CAN he produce tears? Has he cried before with tears streaming down? If not, maybe be can't cry? Maybe there's something wrong with his tear ducts, making his eyes very dry and uncomfortable? My gut instinct tells me there is something physically wrong with him-- he is hurting or uncomfortable in some way.

Toni - posted on 03/23/2012

I agree with laura, sharon's advice is bad advice...do not leave your baby crying for huge periods of time, 5 hours is an abusive amount of time to leave a child crying! Time outs do not work for a child this young, they rarely work on a child under 18 months (but older than a year) because they don't have the understanding of the process, that is evident in the fact it took Sharon 5 hours of returning her child to the spot, which is ridiculous for the child and for you and will do nothing for your stress levels either!



Ok so yes it may be a 'tantrum' but at 8 months old the child doesn't know what he is doing, but he knows he's frustrated. When my children threw a 'tantrum' at this age, I first tried to distract them, I sing their favourite song (my son's was the bear necessities, my daughters is twinkle twinkle little star), I offer them a favourite toy. I check they aren't uncomfortable (nappy needs changing, cold, hot, ill, tired etc) if all of those are satisfied I pick them up and talk with them, sometimes they just need the comfort of their mommy, after all they are so young and the world around them is so big and daunting.



My daughter suffered with separation anxiety from a really young age so I purchased a sling and carried her in that if I needed to do something and she didn't want to be left, now at nearly ten months she is quite happy to follow me round, and can be left to play in a room on her own without freaking out, she knows I'm there for her.



If you feel like he is screaming and you need a break so you can calm yourself down place him in his cot and leave the room for five minutes, but I would only do this is you really need to calm down.

Joy - posted on 03/23/2012

I second the Freecycle advice. Freecycle is awesome :)

April - posted on 03/23/2012

Um, yeah...don't let your baby cry for 5 hours straight. Something is not right there. Definitely take him to a specialist, if you're not getting anywhere with general practictioners. I know you've said you tried a lot of different things, but it sounds like you gave up.



I would keep trying to find things to soothe him. Try babywearing, if you haven't already and don't just try one type of carrier and say, "Hey I tried it." As for money--you can't be buying 10 different carriers, but I would try to see if I could borrow from friends (like a trial type of thing to see which one you should buy) . Try freecycle, post on facebook that you are looking for borrow a carrier for a few days. Whatever it takes to try to find something, anything that will help your son.



Or maybe babywearing isn't it--keep looking for answers. Never stop looking for answers. He has done this since 3 months old. 3 month olds DO NOT throw tantrums. Something has been bothering him for months. If he suddenly started tantrums at 7 months..MAYBE (but unlikely , given the amount of time he cries for) he could have tantrums but no way at 3 months. Something is definitely off and you need to find out what it is.

Joy - posted on 03/23/2012

Sorry but Sharon's advice to use time-out on such a young baby....that's THE WORST advice I've heard in a long time. Time outs are for children who are old enough to understand cause and effect, actions and consequences. A 7 month old BABY lacks the mental capacity to understand such a complex issue. Yes, if they bump their head, they understand that it hurts. But they don't understand enough to not do whatever it was they were doing to bump their head ever again.



FIVE HOURS you repeated this action with your son Sharon? Do you realize that a time out, when used properly, is ONLY supposed to be ONE MINUTE per year of age of the child. My son is 4, his time outs last no longer than 4 minutes.



As for the OP, Danielle, I think you've gotten some good advice from other ladies and I agree with the ones who have told you to seek a different doctor. This may not be what you want to hear because perhaps you are comfortable with your doc. However, you need to find a doctor who is willing to look further than yours is. There are many reasons why a 7 month old baby cries, but tantrums aren't one of them. At 7 months old, your baby's needs are still pretty basic and if the fits last that long and are that frequent, then it very well could be that something is wrong (physically). Maybe he's gassy. Try doing "bicycles" with him when he gets upset. Lay him on his back and take his legs and make the motions like legs make when you're riding a bike. This can help to get things moving down there, whether it's gas or constipation. Also, make sure to take care of YOU. Breathe. Try and keep yourself calm, hard as this may be to do sometimes. Babies pick up easily on their mother's emotions and if you're stressing or getting upset or anygry, he will pick up on it and react to it. Best of luck to you and PLEASE, don't put your son in time out for ANY long period of time. Laying him in his crib for a few so you can catch your breath and gather yourself is one thing. But doing what Sharon suggested is just cruel. IMO.



EDIT: Some of this might not make sense. The post I was responding to has been removed.

Zodwa - posted on 03/23/2012

i seriously think your babies tantrums are affecting you mentally and u feel physically drained....u probably need someone to help u with the baby just for a few hours whilst you get some sleep. your baby needs your full attention, he probably needs you to play more with him...talk to him and after all this give him a warm bath (this should help him relax and probably fall asleep for hrs).....another thing to look at is your childs diet....is he having a healthy meal / are you feeding him enough?....u might find that the child is hungry......keep taking good care of your child....

Fay - posted on 03/23/2012

I was commenting on Connie,s advice!!

Jen - posted on 03/22/2012

"I hope you all get shipped off to a land with a bunch of giants who don't speak your language and get all pissed off whenever you try to talk to them. I hope those giants then either smack you for when you get upset because they can't understand you, or they just ignore you, or they yell back because they can't understand you"



Don't worry Kate, this will happen when they become old and frail and cranky in a nursing home where very often, the elderly (who are as frail as babies)are given a pop on some part in order to get them to behave.

Pamela - posted on 03/22/2012

Many people do not believe in psychic phenomena or those who do that kind of work, yet I do. If you are so inclined, take your baby to see a reader and ask what they "pick up" about the child.



Years ago my son was semi-comatose and could not talk, walk, etc. At 9 years of age he reverted to the stage of an infant. I had a friend who was psychic come and sit with him. He offered us very valuable information that helped us tremendously.



Up to you, but if the doctor can't figure it out, it may be best to look elsewhere for help. The highest and best to you.

Katherine - posted on 03/22/2012

I don't think there's anything wrong with putting your 7 month old down in his crib for a short time while mom clears her head and calms down herself. The post does NOT say she leaves him there "for hours", as some have interpreted somehow. As long as he's safe and only left alone for brief periods, I believe it's beneficial and in some instances, necessary. Isn't this the advice given for colicky babies? I know a 7 month old is beyond the colic age, but the same idea holds true; moms need a cool-down period.



Though, I think if these crying episodes are frequent and long-lasting, there must be something physical going on. You said the doctors have run tests and haven't found anything wrong, and if there's no reason to suspect allergies or food intolerances (gluten or dairy intolerance, for example), maybe it's as simple as a lack of sleep. My daughter was a bear until I figured out she needed A LOT more sleep than the average baby. Maybe try rocking him whenever he starts a fit, and see if it puts him to sleep. That's what I did with my daughter and that's how I figured out she was just TIRED all the time. Babies and toddlers really are different creatures when they're overly tired and not getting enough sleep. Your son may be inborn with a temper (mine is!), but not enough sleep can make that short-lived temper turn into a long, drawn out nightmare! If that's not it for your baby, I'd look into food allergies, as some of the other moms have mentioned. My son is allergic to eggs, and before we found out, he was quite a grumpy fuss with frequent fits of disdain.



Babies ARE born with certain temperaments, including being strong-willed and short-tempered, and fits arent uncommon, I know, but if they really are occurring all the time and for such long periods of time, I think it's more than just a bad temper, honestly. Try more sleep first, as it's an easy fix and then look into allergy tests! Good luck, I know it's difficult.

Melissa - posted on 03/22/2012

it could be gas, stomach probs. possibly his formula, or if you nurse something you ate that he can't handle.

Tanya - posted on 03/22/2012

I would agree with Natalie on this one. If nothing else has worked (walking around, picking him up, cuddling, singing to him, etc) it could very simply be an allergy to something. My son is autistic and he is on a gluten and dairy free diet as he is intolerant to both and also corn. He was a formula fed baby and although he didn't really cry a lot he obviously had stomach issues and probably pain to boot. I never had him tested for it until he was 2 and this was because his stools were runny and at that age shouldn't be. I'm not suggesting this is what you're experiencing but in my opinion, if everything has been tried and he still is crying then it could be an internal issue and only allergy tests will confirm if he has an issue in his stomach or anywhere else. These poor souls cannot tell us where there is pain or what is upsetting them so it really comes down to trial an error. I also have issues with Dr's, our GP told me for 1.5 years that my son was simply a little behind in communication and that he would improve - I pushed to get him looked at by a paed. and she diagnosed him autistic within half an hour. I knew my gut feeling was true and didn't give up, so don't believe these Dr's when they tell you nothing is wrong - a 7 month old cannot cry for that long without something being wrong. Good luck with him =)

Melissa - posted on 03/22/2012

First, God bless you and your family. This has to be exhausting. Leaving them in their rooms is heartbreaking, but sometimes, you need to step back to calm down enough to be a good mommy.



Second, I'm thinking your doctor's bonkers or has missed something. Your son just seems too little to be crying for hours. At that age, most either get distracted and forget they were upset or just pain cry themselves out within an hour if they're not in pain or some type of discomfort. Not even my daughter managed at that age, and she could cry till she vomited at 16 mos.



The food allergies seem like a good place to start, but the other thought I had was that it might be a sensory issue. My son essentially stopped growing when we put him on real food since it all had different tastes and textures and he wouldn't eat. But, he was moving too much to be willing to nurse enough to make up the difference. For some kids the world is just too much to take in at once, or there's not enough sensation and they feel lost. It's possible that either sounds, lights or textures are too much for your little boy. Or it may not be enough of something. Does he calm down at all if you hug him tight? Is a dimly lit room a little easier on him? If the TV in his room is an old style one, not a flat screen, he may be hearing a whine from it you can't. It's another line of thought to try, and one that most doctors don't think of since there's not much testing available. It may even be what had you screaming as a baby, since it's an issue some kids grow out of as they figure out how to cope with input from the outside world.



Another line of thought to try, is developmental testing. If you're in the US, there's a federally mandated program called Early On that tests and treats developmental issues from birth to age 3. It may be worth calling, since they look at a child from a different perspective than a doctor.



I'll add another voice to the don't doubt yourself crowd. If you know something's wrong, dig your heels in and find someone who will listen. I've had so many people tell me that I was wrong and my child was fine and that I was making a mountain out of a molehill. For quite some time that list included my husband. But, this is my child, and I'm the one who saw him turn away nearly every meal, scream and wail at the sound of the vacuum or any motor... You know your child. Don't let other people tell you anything different. Hang in there. I wish you luck and will add you and your family to my prayers.

Natalie - posted on 03/22/2012

I agree with laura in this case. Being inconsolable and stressed, when you tried everything go to the ER.

Laura Zoey - posted on 03/22/2012

Danielle, do you own a baby carrier? Can you buy a moby wrap or a mei tai or an ergo?

Wearing him might give him comfort and closeness. He craves physical touch like every baby does.

Maybe wearing him would help him stay happy and keep your arms free to do other things.



Keep on being the best mom you can. You're doing great and you need to just keep on searching til you find why he is so sad and what you can do to help him.



Try to retrain your brain to not think of this as a tantrum. It's not! Its frustration and he is sad and feeling frustrated and he can't tell you whats wrong!

Think about it from his perspective and maybe you will find the capability to sympathize with him and find the fix.



And if he really has been crying hard over an hour take him to the ER. That's serious and they take you seriously in the ER.

Hood luck Danielle, you can do it! You're a good mom :)

Kellie - posted on 03/22/2012

Dropping the F bomb Really???

Natalie - posted on 03/22/2012

Have you or your doctor considered food allergies? I know it can seem like a long shot, but if his body is in distress and it's been overlooked (not for lack of trying) then it could be affecting his mood and his ability to cope.



The same type of thing we started to notice in my son. He would get grumpy and short tempered and capable of some real meltdowns, and finally out of desperation I even started watching his foods. Turns out, he can't drink regular milk! It was giving him cramps and a stomach ache, which was making him moody and easily upset. Once we changed him over to lactose free milk his demeanor changed and he has far fewer tantrums.



Perhaps your son is suffering and it's the last place you would have thought to look (it was for us too) but it can't hurt, and maybe I've been of some help

Kellie - posted on 03/22/2012

I have 2 girls who are 18 months apart. My eldest daughter didn't do this. She was always able to console herself and play independently and all of her needs had been met. Easy baby. Child # 2 was the polar opposite. She threw tantrums very early and all of her ned were met. I tried to put her down so I could at least go to the bathroom or t o shower, make her breakfast etc. She would cry non stop until I picked her up. This went on for at least 2 years. She is now 17 1/2 and still insists on doing and having her way. I have had to put my foot down because as her mommy I gave in a lot. I just didn't want her to cry. I would say that every baby is different and so is every situation. There is no right or wrong when it comes to babies. If I could do it over again with her, I would have her cry and learn to comfort her self. This is a very natural thing.

Shawnn - posted on 03/22/2012

Danielle, are they still telling you it's "nothing"???



Honey, do you have anywhere else you can take him? I'd be pissed at the doctors at this point. They are ignoring you, and his needs.

Danielle - posted on 03/22/2012

i know the filling because iam almost at a complit brake down iam always here i dont ever go anywere and when he is crying all day and i tell my husband than i cant stand the bair of his crys anymore he tells me to leave than you dont have to be with us and thats not at all wat i want i want somone to listin to ME for once its really exasting that when he is screaming at the top of his lunges than my 5 year old starts in and desides to throw one too i know she is tiered of all the crying to and i do hold him all the time and play with him he is a cuddle bug but honestly i have never in my hole life heard a baby cry this much and this loud my family said i would lay ther and kick in scream for hours for not getting my way and nothing would make me stop if you tryd comferting me it made it worse i just prey everynit that my grandma will come take me with her but i cant stand the fact of living my kids my doughter is the one iam mostly worried about she is so close to me she couldnt handle it so i try to keep my head up iam not going to spank my baby so dont worry about that he is way to young and when i said i lock him in his room i simply mean i put him in his room with all his toys and tv on cartoons and put his baby gate up on his door we took his door down so he can see out of his room so when i cooking or cleaning and he is in everything i put him in his room to play we have a camara moniter up so we can see him and hear everythin and i have actully had dhs called on me for my doughter being to advansed when she was 3 months old because she was a bold baby so they said i left her on her back but she was fully crawling at 3 months old sitting up and holding her bottle

Shawnn - posted on 03/22/2012

Fay, what is WHAT all about? Who's post are you referring to?

Amber - posted on 03/22/2012

My 10 month old daughter takes tantrums. And I have to ignore the behaviour and let her cool down on her own or she could go on forever!. I always try to see if she has unmet needs and most of the time it's because she can't have her way..

Fay - posted on 03/22/2012

What the heck is that all abt she wants some advice not a lecture!!

Shawnn - posted on 03/22/2012

For all those recommending the proverbial "pop on the butt", or trying to reason with the kid, I'd like to remind you that Danielle, the original poster, is speaking of a 7 month old BABY. Not a toddler, NOT a child that can communicate verbally yet, as Kate mentioned a few posts back. And, as Kate mentioned, a BABY is not going to vocalize words, just cries. That is their vocalization.



Talking/reasoning works when the child is old enough to understand what you are saying. No 7 month old is going to understand "your behavior is not ok, please tell me what is bothering you"...because 1, their comprehension at that age is minimal, and 2 (again) they cannot verbalize in words and sentences yet!



The thing that really disturbs me is that I'm seeing a trend where doctors (who we're supposed to TRUST for crying out loud) are minimalizing parental concerns, ignoring symptoms, and basically telling us that, because we're the mom, and they're the doctor, we know nothing and they know everything. I experienced that with my son almost 20 years ago, and were it not for a great nurse that DID pay attention, my son would be dead now.



Moms, don't EVER let a doctor tell you that you're making too much fuss about your kids when they are sick, hurt, etc! If you feel that your complaints are being trivialized, or flat out ignored, then see another doctor, or find a children's hospital and take them to the ER there. Another friend of mine almost lost her baby last month due to an illness that was being ignored by her pediatricians. They even called child services on her and tried to get her investigated for abuse, because she was bringing the baby (4 months old) in "too frequently"...and that baby just got out of MAJOR surgery at Children's in Denver for the condition that the original doctor said "didn't exist".

September - posted on 03/22/2012

I'm sorry but there is no way a 7 month old baby is throwing tantrums. A baby that young is only trying to communicate a need. Your best bet would be to figure out why he's crying and fix it for him.

Heather - posted on 03/22/2012

Let him throw his tantrum, and ignore him. OR try to talk to him about what he is upset about and tell him that he can do or have something else instead of what he actually wants. Try giving him a little control over his world.



Sounds like you have a smart little guy on your hands. Yes, there will be times when putting him in the pack and play or his crib for a few minutes to let him have his tantrum is safer for him, and for you. There is nothing wrong with that. No need to lock him in his room. Just give him, and you, and few minutes apart when he gets upset, especially if you get upset back at him.



Once he learns that he isn't going to win, he will stop, for a few months anyways, then it starts all over again after they hit a year or so, and it keeps going till heaven knows when...



Good luck.

Cindy - posted on 03/22/2012

When my daughter did that, I gave her a light pop on the diaper! She learned pretty quick that she couldn't control us that way and that there was a consequence.... A pop on the diaper enough to make a noise. They don't like it, but it doesn't hurt them physically.

Kate CP - posted on 03/22/2012

Wow. Just...wow.



You know, I'm really pissed off for all the babies who have moms who seem to think that at 6 months they should know how to communicate. Are you honestly expecting a child who can't even fuckin' WALK to look at you and say "Mother, my diaper is wet and it's rather uncomfortable. Would you please change me?" Or perhaps something like "No, I don't want to do that at the moment. I would prefer to go play with that toy over there." I mean...damn, people. Babies CRY. That's what they do. They're not doing it to manipulate you. They're doing it because they CAN'T TALK. So to all you lovely moms out there suggesting you either hit the baby for crying, IGNORE the baby for crying, or try to train the baby not to cry...I hope you all get shipped off to a land with a bunch of giants who don't speak your language and get all pissed off whenever you try to talk to them. I hope those giants then either smack you for when you get upset because they can't understand you, or they just ignore you, or they yell back because they can't understand you.



Kids cry because something is wrong emotionally or physically. The world is a scary place. Lots of noises, people, smells, lights, textures...it's overwhelming for a baby of any age a lot of the time. Just because the parent can't figure out what's wrong doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. Kids don't cry just for shits and grins.

Tracie - posted on 03/22/2012

He is crying because he needs something, be it food, attention, relief from pain, etc. You need to find out what he needs and make sure he gets it. I have a really hard time believing a pediatrician would classify a 7 month old's cries as a tantrum. Try a new doctor. Good luck.

Emily - posted on 03/22/2012

Could he be overly stimulated? Or teething. Have you noticed what the tantrums are about?

Connie - posted on 03/22/2012

Wow. I have to put my two cents in here, not criticizing. First off, children begin to learn manipulation at 6 months. Developmental fact. They will do what works to get what they want. If they are hungry and screaming and you give them a bottle, then they figure that works. So around 6 months a parent has to start ensuring that they do not encourage unwanted behaviors by letting the baby make inappropriate connections. Even if that is waiting for them to take a breath between screams and praising them being quiet before giving the child the bottle or picking them up. Secondly, teeth move up and down and back and forth working their way down. It is PAINFUL. I have an infant in my care now who started teething 3 months ago and still doesn't have one popped through at 7 1/2 months. On bad days, because it comes and goes, she can cry/scream nearly all day. Orajel is topical and only good when the tooth is budded and ready to pop. Often the tooth pain is deep in the gum where Orajel can't reach. Each person experiences pain in different ways and at different levels, so your baby CAN be in pain and mad about it and letting you know. Pain is a learned response, so I try to only give Tylenol if it is so bad the baby can't sleep, and suggest the same to parents, additionally if it's happening at night so THEY can sleep. There is a reason teething is so painful, the body needs to learn to respond to pain, but it is the first pain an infant experiences, so it's SO much worse to them than we can fathom. Tantrums are an anger issue involving a trigger and response. They do not last for hours. In toddlerhood, when the memory is much better, they can last longer or be re-triggered, but an infant doesn't have that mental capacity to keep up a tantrum for hours. If there are no tears, then the baby is MAD. About something. And there is a reason. The reason needs to be identified and handled. Humans experience touch over pain. If the child is in pain, firm massage should alleviate some pain and cause a difference in behavior and lessening of the response. If really worked up, it may take some, but it should cause a difference. If it doesn't, then most likely it isn't pain. I had a parent say their daughter was getting spoiled because whenever they picked her up she quit crying. Well, yeah, because as soon as you touch an infant in pain the pain lessens. I suggested that instead of picking her up, to just massage her. If she is trying to manipulate a pick up, then that won't work. If it is for pain alleviation, then it will. We knew she was teething, so they weren't surprised to find out massage worked just as well as picking her up, and it was in no way spoiling her to do either, just helping her through a bad transition. It isn't necessarily a bid for attention, but possibly one for relief. If the infant does respond to massage and it seems like pain, then it could be a number of things like teething, gas, reflux, or a major physical ailment that needs to be identified and dealt with. Lastly, most likely at 7 months, you have started serving food. Especially if a child has been on formula rather than breast milk, their digestive system isn't used to processing anything. Some infants have really immature digestive systems and have to wait a couple more months before working on solids. If you are trying new foods, there could be an allergic reaction to something you are feeding that shows up in this way. You may want to try going back to straight formula or breast milk for a couple weeks and see if that makes a difference. I assume that you aren't giving any cows milk or juice, but in case, the proteins and enzymes in un-heated cows milk are really harsh and can cause major digestive issues and the concentrated acids in juice are very harsh on the digestive systems of any child under the age of 4 and can cause problems. Diet and teething are the two most common causes of uncontrollable crying at this age, especially in infants who have not shown this trait prior to 6 months. If the infant is fed, changed, and seems to not be in pain, and there aren't any other points you can key in on, then I would also, like others have, suggest it is a sensory or other ailment and needs further checking with professionals. While a 7 month old can have tantrums, they aren't long, usually when over tired, and have a trigger that can be identified. If that isn't the case, then something else is going on.

Carolyn - posted on 03/22/2012

something is wrong if he is doing this so early, could it be a stomach? or ear ache? 7 months is to young to be crying with out a reason, keep digging till you find out what is causeing this. stay on the internet, maybe someone with simalir problems can help you. good luck, just keep loving on him, it's not his or your falut, find the cause.

Teresa - posted on 03/22/2012

Spanking 7 month olds and sticking them in the corner for time out?!



Sheesh... now I think I've heard it all. Why do some people even have children? :(

Fay - posted on 03/22/2012

Oh i do apologise i did,nt see that post and i thought that was not in Danielle,s letter! once again sincere apologies. FAY.

Julia - posted on 03/22/2012

Fay,

Danielle is NOT hitting her child. Another poster gave the hitting advice. I responded to Elizabeth- not Danielle. I don't want everyone now to think Danielle is hitting her baby!!

Fay - posted on 03/22/2012

Yes Danielle hitting a child is not the way you must get this sorted before it goes any further .

Jenni - posted on 03/22/2012

Agree with everything Julia said. Using corporal punishment on an infant under the age of two is actually illegal and considered child abuse in my country.



And please tell me how spare the rod translates to spanking? a shepherd's rod was use to guide sheep. Not spank them with it. Not that I'd take the advise of a few thousand year old text from an ancient culture to discipline my children. One that also suggests stoning your eldest child to make an example of him so your younger ones don't follow in his foot steps of disobedience.

Julia - posted on 03/22/2012

Elizabeth,

I have never responded, but I absolutely have to respond to your post because I'm afraid someone might take your advice. As far as I am concerned, hitting a child because they are expressing upset is abuse. Pure and simple. The message they are receiving is that their emotions are wrong and bad. Treating a human being with respect and kindness is always right. Always. Advising someone to hit a baby is unconciousable. Please, please keep that sort of advice to yourself.

The negative side effects of punishment (especially physical punishment) have been seen time and again in psychological studies. No child psychologist would ever advise a parent to hit a child, no less a BABY. Baby's are incapable of misbehaving. This poor child is simply expressing upset. The CAUSE of the upset needs to be found and dealt with. Not the symptom.

Fay - posted on 03/21/2012

Hi i think maybe that you,r son can feel that you are stressed and knows that he,s getting to you even though he,s only 7mnths old is he cutting his teeth? or does he have ear ache these are things that a baby cannot tell us and you cannot detect, does he like music by music i mean nice soft sounds like water running or wind blowing if none of these things work then get a second third even forth opinion until you get to the bottom of this i do feel for you having two other children it must be very difficult for you. Hope you can solve whatever ever is wrong with you,r son. Good luck FAY.

Jen - posted on 03/21/2012

Elizabeth I really hope you're not suggesting that 7 month old babies should be subjected to corporal punishment. Because that would be messed up and I'm not anti-spanking

Markita - posted on 03/21/2012

Wow, Danielle, it sounds like you really have your hands full. Could it be that he's over tired? My oldest didn't throw tantrums that early but he would get out of control and really whiney when he was over tired. I had no clue and would try to distract him, feed him, take him outside, etc and all he really needed was a nap. Has your doctor ruled out things like sensory issues? I know it's really early for that but there could be something underlying there.



Being a mother is hard enough without having people judge you for the way your child behaves. Hang in there, keep a journal of what he does and when he does it. You may find out there's something triggering it when you go back and read it or your doctor could use it to make a diagnosis.



Good luck girl!

Kate CP - posted on 03/21/2012

"I honestly say I'd have to disagree with a lot of you on the fact that 7 month olds don't throw tantrums yes they do my daughter threw tantrums at 7 months but we didn't let her cry for hours I would ignore her for 15-20 mins if she didn't stop i would go and check to make sure she wasn't hungry or wet or tired or in pain if nothing was wrong and she still cried we would put her in the corner for about 2 mins nothing longer and while she was in the corner she would slowly calm down and stop crying "



How, exactly, is a 7 month old infant supposed to let you know they are unhappy unless they scream and cry? Reasons why a 7 month old may stop crying when put in a corner:



1. They were distracted

2. They were over stimulated before being placed in the corner

3. They gave up



Infants don't throw tantrums. Period.